No. 2 TCU, No. 4 Baylor highlight preseason USA Today coaches’ poll

The Big 12 missed out on the College Football Playoff last season as the only Power Five conference that wasn’t represented in the four-team tournament.

That could change in a big way in 2015 — at least if USA Today’s panel of coaches know what they are talking about.

The 64 coaches who make up the voting group have picked TCU as second in the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll behind only defending national champion Ohio State. Baylor, which shared the Big 12’s conference title with the Horned Frogs last season, is No. 4.

The Buckeyes received 62 of the 64 first-place ballots. TCU and No. 3 Alabama earned one first-place vote apiece.

It’s the highest preseason ranking for the Horned Frogs in the modern era and ties them for their highest ranking ever in the poll.

It’s also the highest preseason ranking for the Bears, too.

The Big 12’s strength appears down as No. 19 Oklahoma is the only other Big 12 team ranked. It’s the lowest preseason ranking for the Sooners since 2000, when Coach Bob Stoops claimed his only national championship with the program.

Among the notable omissions in the Top 25 include Texas, which is not ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1998 — Mack Brown’s first season in Austin.

Other Big 12 teams receiving votes include Oklahoma State at No. 28, Kansas State 31st, UT 38th and West Virginia tied for 45th.